The Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera provides an astounding 10.0 megapixel resolution, and is packed with a full range of high-performance features usually found only on more expensive cameras. The result is a compact camera that produces truly incredible photographs. The high resolution is complemented by a 4x optical zoom that brings the world up close, and you'll see it all clearly on the big, bright 2.5-inch Vari-Angle LCD monitor. The 21 shooting modes make photography easy, fun and creative, and are joined by great functionality like expanded ISO settings that let you shoot in low light without blur.
| Camera Type | Compact Point-and-shoot Digital Camera |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 1/1.8" 10.4 Megapixel CCD |
| Effective Resolution | 10.0 million pixels |
| Color Depth | 24-Bit RGB |
| Color Modes | Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom Color |
| Image File Formats | JPEG (Superfine, Fine, Normal) |
| Recorded Resolution |
Large (3648 x 2736) Widescreen (3648 x 2048) Medium 1 (2816 x 2112) Medium 2 (2272 x 1704) Medium 3 (1600 x 1200) Small (640 x 480) |
| Video Recording |
AVI Motion JPEG with Sound High (640 x 480 @ 30 fps, up to 1GB) Medium (640 x 480 @ 15 fps, up to 1GB) Low (320 x 240 @ 15 fps, up to 1GB) Compact (160 x 120 @ 15 fps, up to 3 minutes) |
| Audio Recording | WAVE (Monaural) |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Canon Zoom Lens |
| Optical Zoom | 4x |
| Lens Focal Length | 7.3mm - 29.2mm (35mm - 140mm equivalent) |
| Digital Zoom | 4x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.4" (1cm) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8-4.1 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | No |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | 58mm with LA-DC58F Conversion Lens Adapter (optional) |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | TTL Autofocus |
| Focus Modes | Continuous, Single |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 18" (45cm) - infinity Macro: 0.4" (1cm) - 18" (45cm) wide |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO High ISO Auto Selectable ISO (80, 100, 200, 400, 800) |
| Shutter Type | Not Specified |
| Shutter Speed | 15 - 1/2500 seconds |
| Aperture Range | f/2.8-4.1 to f/8.0 |
| Exposure Metering | Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE, Shutter Speed-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Manual, Exposure Compensation (±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments), AE Lock |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater), Custom |
| Scene Modes | Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist, Movie |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes (Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Synchro, Flash On, Flash Off) |
| Effective Flash Range | 1.5 (0.5m) - 14' (4.2m) |
| External Flash Connection | No |
| External Flash Control | Not Applicable |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | Not Specified |
| Shutter Lag | Not Specified |
| Time Between Shots | Not Specified |
| Burst Capability | 1.8 fps continuous |
| Self Timer | 10 seconds or 2 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Date & Time Stamp | No |
| Memory & Power | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatible Memory Cards |
Secure Digital (SD) Card Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Card MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recording Capacity |
Includes 32MB MultiMediaCard (MMC) Still Image Capacity
Video Capacity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battery Type | 4x AA Batteries (Alkaline Ni-MH) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Adapter | ACK600 AC Adapter Kit (optional) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) mini-B jack |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge, Canon Direct Print) |
| Remote Control | No |
| Video Output | Yes (NTSC & PAL) |
| Web-Cam Capable | No |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows System
Macintosh System
|
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical zoom viewfinder |
| LCD Display | 2.5" Vari-Angle low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD (115,000 pixels) |
| Language Options | English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian |
| Playback Options | Single, Magnification (2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Auto Play, Resume Playback, Movie Playback, Special Playback, Movie Editing |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 2.6 x 4.3 x 1.9" (66 x 110 x 49mm) |
| Weight | 8.7 oz. (245g) camera body |
Displaying reviews 1-3
Comments about Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera:
I just came back from a two weeks trip to Yellow Stone andYosemite. I took a Canon 20D with a bunch of lenses andthe PowerShot A640 as well. I find the image quality on par with the 20D.The f8 aperture has never be a problem and just as good as f22 on the 20D with a EFS 17-55 mm zoom.I do wish it had an image stabilizer...I am not too goodwith a fully extended zomm
Expertise: Serious amateur
Comments about Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera:
Short and sweet. I love mine, and use it all the time. It has all the manual controls of the big boys, but is small enough that I can just toss it in my pack and not even notice it's there. Min. F stop is 8, but I shoot more f2.8 and 4 than anything...so no issue for me.Great little guy to carry when you don't have room for your SLR.
Expertise: Semi-pro (Weekend warrior) I shoot lots of weddings, senior portraits, and local events.
Problems Encountered: I just wish that ISO 800 wasn't quite so grainy...but hey, it's not bad at all for a compact. (actually preforms better than I expected.)
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Power Shot SD800
Items I Recommend: Rechargable batteries
Comments about Canon PowerShot A640 Digital Camera:
This looks like a good compact digital camera, but I raninto one big show stopper: The minimum aperture is an f8. For the outdoor photography I do, this won't work--no gooddepth of field. I think for most folks, most of the time, this will be afine camera. It should shoot fine portraits and vacationshots. It won't work for a semi-serious photographer. Iwas looking for a lightweight, high-capability digital thatI could use for mountaineering and rock climbing. Theweight and capability are fine, but the minimum f-stop is areal problem. (Just about all compact digitalis have thisproblem. I am going to try the Fuji S700, which I think hasa minimum f-stop of f13--hope it works for me!)
Expertise: Semi-pro have displayed and sold some work.
Problems Encountered: Minimum aperture is f8.
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon Digital XTi. A2E, Elan, Rebel T2.
Displaying reviews 1-3